August 24, 2016

"Cold, wet weather meant the 2008 growing season was a challenge in Bordeaux. A spell of warm, dry conditions in July and an Indian summer in September saved the season from being a write-off, and some outstanding wines were made. James Suckling attended a small tasting of the 2008 Bordeaux vintage during Vinexpo Hong Kong in May organized by wine merchants Farr Vintners.

February 08, 2013

The annual Bordeaux Tasting by the Institute of Masters of Winewas held November 6, 2012, in London. This year, the 2008 vintage was tasted and the report has just been published.

Domaine de Chevalier is honored.

108 of the greatest wines of Bordeaux were shown at this very prestigious meeting with more than 50 Masters of Wine joined by some students of the Institure and some leading figures from the world of wine.

The tasters were asked to highlight wines wich they felt had been particularly succesful in the vintage.

May 12, 2009

"Sweet
and smoky dark fruits, with a properly sweet sense to the fruit character. A
textured palate, with good substance, and sweet plum and blackberry fruit.
Balanced. A lovely ripe extract, good backbone, overall a fine and harmonious
wine."

"This is pure, lifted and rich,
showing plump pear and stone fruit. It has an elegantly polished character to
it, and all seems in total harmony. There is a slightly greener edge to the
fruit than is found in some of the bigger wines but I like that. The palate is
full, stylish, with delightfully vibrant and lifted fruit notes, and intense
and piercing freshness and vivacious acidity. Full of vigour, in combination
with midpalate flesh, this is a brilliant effort."

April 30, 2009

"One of the finest wines made at this estateover the last three decades, Domaine de
Chevalier’s 2008 (60%cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot
and cabernet franc) achieved 13 % natural alcohol. It was cropped at 45 hl per
ha, which is significantly lower than in most top vintages. The most noticeable
thing is that consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt has drastically cut back the
influence of new oak, or at leasts its ability to intrude on the aromatics and
flavours. This beautifully textured, dense purple-colored 2008 exhibits notes
of graphite, spring flowers, and blue as well as red fruits in an elegant,
full-bodied, flavourful, layered mouthfeel. The freshness of the vintage,
combined with low yields has given this cuvee an atypical density and richness
that is largely unprecedented. Production is relatively small for the size of
the vineyard (about 8,000 cases).

April 22, 2009

WHITE
PESSAC-LEOGNAN & GRAVES:The dry white Pessac-Leognan and Graves represent, as a group, the most
homogenous wines of the vintage and, overall, the best in quality. The purity of
the fruit – very grapefruit/citrussy - and the high acidity are remarkable. The
best are also possessed of a fine minerality. As in practically every vintage I
can remember, the top three wines are, in alphabetical order, Domaine de
Chevalier, Chateau Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion.

Domaine de
Chevalier Pessac-LeognanXXXX1/2Grapefruit, minerals and and some sulphur on the nose.
The palate is very pure, linear, fresh, limes, grapefruit and mineral.
Nervosite, persistence and length. A thoroughbred from start to finish.
Medium-bodied.

April 20, 2009

Very
dark purple indeed. Attractive savour and life on the nose but a little
bit green on the palate. Round but marked by acidity and less than
opulent tannins but very polished and savoury. A bit too muscular ?
Fades on the finish. A little more flashy than previous vintages of
Domaine de Chevalier than I remember. But it grew in the glass.

Domaine de la Solitude 2008 Rouge: 16 + Drink 2012-19

Deep
crimson. Firm and quite extracted nose without much personality, thoug
lots of intensity, at this stage. Ripe Cabernet fruit dominates the
palate. A little angular now but it should age into something really
quite pretty.

This is a little reticent on the nose, blackberry, liquorices and a touch of tar. Nice definition but very tight. The palate is full-bodied with ripe toasty tannins, nicely balanced and very good weight. Well defined with blackberry, pain grille and a touch of liquorices (a very light touch). Classy stuff - just a little dryness on the finish. Tasted April 2009.

Blanc:

2008 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc (91-93)

This has a superior mineral intensity than other dry white Bordeaux this year with very good definition. The palate has a ripe apply entry with pear, lime and gooseberry, very vibrant with great length. Its class really shows through. This a great success considering the vintage. Tasted April 2009

April 16, 2009

Black-purple-red, lovely purity of black fruits on the nose, touch of
smoky complexity, fine fragrance of roses fruit on the palate, perfect
balance, deceptively easy due to the purity of the fruit, a lovely
wine. Drink 2014-25. (17.5 points)